Packers announce 2013 regular season schedule

The Green Bay Packers’ 93rd NFL regular-season schedule – highlighted by four prime-time games (subject to flexible scheduling) and a Thanksgiving contest at Detroit – was released this evening by the National Football League.

Green Bay’s schedule includes six games against 2012 playoff teams, with three of those contests (Atlanta, Minnesota, Washington) at Lambeau Field and three on the road (Cincinnati, Minnesota, San Francisco). The Packers will travel to play both of the teams that played in Super Bowl XLVII (Baltimore and San Francisco).

The Packers have two prime-time contests at home (vs. Chicago on Monday Night Football in Week 9 and against Atlanta on Sunday night in Week 14) and two on the road (Sunday night contests at Minnesota in Week 8 and at the N.Y. Giants in Week 11). Green Bay plays at Detroit on Thanksgiving for the fourth time in the past seven seasons (also 2007, 2009 and 2011).

Green Bay opens the regular season vs. the 49ers for the second straight year and at San Francisco for the first time in franchise history. It marks only the second time under Head Coach Mike McCarthy that the Packers will open their season away from Lambeau Field (also 2010 at Philadelphia).

The Packers’ bye arrives in Week 4, the earliest their open date has come on the schedule since they had a Week 4 bye in 1999.

For the first time since entering the National Football League in 1921, Green Bay does not have back-to-back road games on its schedule.

The Packers’ lone NFC North contest in the final month of the season comes in Week 17 at Chicago, the second time under McCarthy (also 2006) that Green Bay has closed out the regular season at Soldier Field.

Dates and times for Green Bay’s preseason games have also been finalized.

All times are Central *Start time may shift due to NFL flexible scheduling

SCHEDULE NOTES …

at San Francisco, Sept. 8, 3:25 p.m. CT (FOX) – Green Bay opens its season in San Francisco for the first time in franchise history and faces the 49ers in the season opener for only the third time (also 1976 and 2012)…A matchup of the top two teams in the NFC over the past two seasons (Green Bay, 26-6; San Francisco, 24-7-1)…The fourth regular-season meeting between the clubs in the past five seasons.

vs. Washington, Sept. 15, 12 p.m. CT (FOX) – The Packers open their home slate against the Redskins for the first time since 1933, when they hosted the Boston Redskins in the season opener…Marks the Redskins’ first visit to Green Bay since 2007 and their second trip to Lambeau Field over the past 11 seasons…Green Bay has won four of its last five against Washington.

at Cincinnati, Sept. 22, 12 p.m. CT (FOX) – Green Bay’s first regular-season visit to Cincinnati since 2005…Only the third meeting between the teams over the past 15 seasons…Marks the Packers’ fifth game ever against the Bengals in Cincinnati.

vs. Detroit, Oct. 6, 12 p.m. CT (FOX) – Marks the third time in the past five seasons (also 2009-10) that the Lions have visited Green Bay in the month of October…Including a 1994 playoff victory, the Packers have won 22 consecutive games against the Lions in the state of Wisconsin…Under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay has a 13-1 overall mark and a 7-0 home record against Detroit.

at Baltimore, Oct. 13, 12 p.m. CT (FOX) – Only the Packers’ second game at Baltimore since the franchise moved there in 1996 (only other meeting came in 2005)…Green Bay visits the defending Super Bowl champion for the second straight year (N.Y. Giants in 2012).

vs. Cleveland, Oct. 20, 3:25 p.m. CT (CBS) – The Browns’ first visit to Lambeau Field since 2005 and only their third regular-season game ever at the stadium…QB Aaron Rodgers’ posted a 155.4 passer rating in the last meeting between the teams (at Cleveland, Oct. 25, 2009), his single-game career high.

at Minnesota, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBC) – Border rivals square off in a prime-time contest for the fifth time in the past six seasons…Of the past 21 regular-season meetings between the clubs, 16 of those games have been decided by seven points or less…Will mark the Packers’ last regular-season game at the Metrodome.

vs. Chicago, Nov. 4, 7:40 p.m. CT (ESPN) – Will be the eighth consecutive season that the teams have squared off in a prime-time contest…Marks the 21st straight season that the Packers have appeared on Monday Night Football (1993-2013)…The Packers have won five straight games against the Bears at Lambeau Field, the team’s longest home winning streak against Chicago since 1993-98 (six games).

vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 12 p.m. CT (FOX) – The Eagles’ first visit to Green Bay since 2007…Including a Wild Card victory during the 2010 season, the Packers have won three straight in the series.

at N.Y. Giants, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBC) – The clubs square off in the regular season for the fourth straight year, the first time they have done so since 1980-83, and the second straight season at New York in prime time…It marks the fourth consecutive season that Green Bay will play at MetLife Stadium with the Packers visiting the Giants each of the last three years and the Jets in 2010.

vs. Minnesota, Nov. 24, 12 p.m. CT (FOX) – Including playoffs, the Packers have won four straight and seven of the last eight games between the teams at Lambeau Field…The Packers have scored 23-plus points vs. Minnesota in each of the last seven contests at Green Bay.

at Detroit, Nov. 28, 11:30 a.m. CT (FOX) – The Packers visit Detroit on Thanksgiving for the fourth time in the past seven seasons…Green Bay has won six of seven at Ford Field under Head Coach Mike McCarthy…The Packers have won all three Thanksgiving meetings against the Lions under McCarthy.

vs. Atlanta, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBC) – The Falcons’ first visit to Green Bay since 2008 and only their third December visit…A matchup of the top two teams in the NFC since 2010, with both clubs posting a 36-12 regular-season record (.750) over that span.

at Dallas, Dec. 15, 3:25 p.m. CT (FOX) – Only the Packers’ second December visit (1989) to Dallas in franchise history…Green Bay’s first game ever against Dallas at Cowboys Stadium…The Packers’ win in Super Bowl XLV vs. Pittsburgh came at the stadium…It marks the fifth regular-season meeting between the clubs over the past seven seasons.

vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 22, 3:25 p.m. CT (CBS) – The Steelers’ first visit to Green Bay since 2005 and only their third trip to Lambeau Field in December…The last meeting between the clubs came in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, a 31-25 Green Bay victory.

at Chicago, Dec. 29, 12 p.m. CT (FOX) – The Packers close out the season in Chicago for the first time since 2006…Including a 2010 playoff victory at Chicago, Green Bay has won 15 of the last 19 meetings between the clubs at Soldier Field...The Packers have swept the season series three of the past four years (2009, 2011-12).

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